Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) is a high school in Mount Vernon, Washington.[3] The school was originally known as Union High School.[1][4] With a student body nearing 2,000, it is the largest public high school in Skagit County, Washington.
| Mount Vernon High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
1075 E Fulton St. Mount Vernon, Washington, United States | |
| Information | |
| Former name | Union High School[1] |
| Type | Public secondary school, grades 9-12 |
| School district | Mount Vernon School District |
| Principal | Colette Roche |
| Staff | 102.75 (FTE)[2] |
| Number of students | 1,977 (2022-23)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 19.24[2] |
| Color(s) | Green & White |
| Athletics conference | Northwest Conference 3A Wesco 3A (Football only) |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Rivals | Burlington-Edison Sedro-Woolley |
| Yearbook | Skagina |
| Website | http://mvhs.mountvernonschools.org |
Athletics
editGymnasium & Field House
editBuilt in 1951, the Mount Vernon High School gymnasium features original wooden bleachers and other classic architectural features.[5]
In 2003 the MVHS gym was ranked first among twenty of the state's top high school gymnasiums by the Seattle Times. The story referred to it as "the gold standard of high-school gymnasiums" and "the Sistine Chapel of Washington gyms".[5]
Basketball
editMount Vernon is known for its athletic success in high school basketball.[6][7] The Bulldogs' boys basketball team found major success under Mac Fraser, head coach from 1986–2001, who was elected into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Bulldogs won consecutive WIAA Class 3A state titles in 1991 and 1992 led by future NBA player Mark Hendrickson.[8] In 2000 the Bulldogs lost in the state title game to Seattle Prep, but returned the next year to defeat Rainier Beach for the 2001 title.[9] The Bulldogs were undefeated in 1991 and 2001.
Music & Forensics
editMount Vernon is known for its musical programs, specifically its Band, Choir, and Mariachi programs. Its band program, under the direction of Skagit Symphony director Jacob Scherr, as well as the Choir program under the direction of Jesus Gomez, have achieved consistent representation at the WMEA Solo & Ensemble competition, with the Percussion Ensemble directed by Daisy Cardona having been invited to the 2024 Percussive Arts Society International Competition.[10] The school's Mariachi program has also been noted for being a unique offering, with it being one of the few existing in Washington State. [11]
The Mount Vernon speech & debate program has been also successful, with the team being a leading chapter of the National Speech & Debate Association and its "100 club", holding 27 nationals appearances.[12]
Notable alumni
edit- Cheryl Bentyne, singer with The Manhattan Transfer.[13]
- Jim Caviezel, film and television actor.[14]
- Lawrence Colburn, United States Army helicopter crew member who intervened to stop the Mỹ Lai massacre.[15]
- Don Eldridge, politician and Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives[16]
- Mark Hendrickson, NBA player and MLB pitcher.[8]
- Craig Kelly, pioneer snowboarder.[17]
- Kyle Kendrick, MLB pitcher and 2008 World Series champion.[18]
- Jane Lawrence, actress and opera singer, played Gertie in the original Broadway production of Oklahoma!.[19][20]
- Grant Leep, Head men's basketball coach at Seattle Pacific University.[8]
- Chad Lindberg, film and television actor.[21]
- Alden Mason, painter and professor of art at the University of Washington.[22]
- Ross Mathews, "Ross the Intern" on the Tonight Show, tv host and television personality.[21]
- Kathi McDonald, singer and songwriter.[23]
- Amberleigh West, Playboy Playmate.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b Union High School (Entrance nameplate). Mount Vernon High School: Mount Vernon School District.
- ^ a b c "Mount Vernon High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ Kelley, Peter (February 27, 2000). Written at Mount Vernon, Washington. "School planetarium in jeopardy as times and teaching change". The Seattle Times. Seattle. Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
The 1,018-square-foot planetarium was built in 1962 [..] one of the only high schools in the area to have a planetarium.
- ^ Written at Mount Vernon, Washington. "High School Praised". The Bellingham Herald. Bellingham, Washington. April 27, 1923. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Smith, Craig (February 25, 2003). "Gym dandies: These hoop havens heaven to some". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
1. Mount Vernon – This is the Sistine Chapel of Washington gyms. Built in 1921, it is old, wooden and has warmth and heritage. Many consider it the gold standard of high-school gymnasiums.
- ^ Bergin, Mark (March 9, 2004). Written at Mill Creek. "Swanson, Mount Vernon resume state tradition". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Seattle. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
Few programs in Washington enjoy Mount Vernon's wealth of basketball heritage. Dating to 1924, when the Bulldogs advanced to their first state tournament, they have — including this year — qualified 22 times. Those appearances have produced three state titles and three runner-up finishes.
- ^ Richardson, Vince (February 6, 2024). "Effort being made to digitize video from past Mount Vernon High School basketball games". Skagit Valley Herald. Mount Vernon, Washington. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
An effort is being made to put about 25 years of Mount Vernon High School boys' basketball games online.
- ^ a b c Brennan, Melanie (March 12, 1997). Written at Mount Vernon, Washington. "They're Raised On Bulldog Basketball -- Mount Vernon Boys Add To Rich Tradition". The Seattle Times. Seattle. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Craig (March 4, 2001). Written at Tacoma. "Class 3A boys basketball: Top of the Mount". The Seattle Times. Seattle. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
Mount Vernon completed an undefeated season last night by beating Rainier Beach 65-52 to win the Class 3A boys state high-school basketball championship at the Tacoma Dome.
- ^ "International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC)". Percussive Arts Society. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Adaptive mariachi at Mount Vernon High School aids self-expression in special education". king5.com. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Mount Vernon High School - Mount Vernon, WA - National Speech & Debate Association". NSDA.
- ^ Voegtlin, Anne (October 4, 1985). "Transfer-mation of a classmate". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
When I knew her she was Cheryl Benthien, a fellow member of Mount Vernon (Wash.) High School's Class of 1972.
- ^ Smith, Craig (March 2, 2004). "Basketball was early passion for Caviezel". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
Q: What's the basketball history of Jim Caviezel, the Mount Vernon native who plays Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ" blockbuster? A: Caviezel, 35, grew up in Conway, near Mount Vernon, in a Catholic, basketball-crazy family. As a freshman at Mount Vernon High School, he got thrown in a dumpster by upperclassmen after proclaiming he would make the varsity. He transferred as a junior to O'Dea, played for the Irish, then transferred again that spring to Kennedy.
- ^ Investigation of the My Lai Incident (Report). My Lai Incident Subcommittee. 1970. p. 219. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
Mr. Hebert: Where did you go to school? Mr. Colburn: Mount Vernon High School, and Skagit Valley Junior College.
- ^ "Obituary — Donald D. Eldridge". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. October 24, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
He graduated from Mount Vernon Union High School in 1938
- ^ Dizon, Kristin; Kamb, Lewis (January 21, 2003). Written at Mount Vernon, Washington. "Kelly lived life 'strapped in'". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Seattle. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
After graduating from Mount Vernon High School in 1983, Kelly went to the University of Washington, where he was an honor student.
- ^ Zolecki, Todd (June 13, 2013). "Kendrick's journey to bigs made possible by dad". MLB.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
the Phillies selected his son in the seventh round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft out of Mount Vernon High School in Washington
- ^ "Skagit Girl Wins — Jane Brotherton Second in Posture Contest". The Bellingham Herald. February 18, 1929. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
Miss Jane Brotherton, Mount Vernon high school girl...
- ^ Smith, Roberta (August 22, 2005). "Jane Lawrence Smith, 90, Actress Associated With 1950s Art Scene, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "Celebrities of Skagit County". Skagit Valley Herald. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
- ^ Farr, Sheila (May 17, 2012). "Mason, Alden (1919-2013)". HistoryLink.org. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Weeks, Gordon (September 20, 2007). "Hometown show for hard-beltin' blues rocker". Skagit Valley Herald. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Lacitis, Erik (December 10, 2015). "Mount Vernon woman one of last nude Playboy centerfolds". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
A 2010 Mount Vernon High graduate, and then a 2012 Skagit Valley College graduate as a paralegal, she decided to pursue a career as a model.